After achieving my goal last year of refereeing on tv, I now sit back and wonder where am I going to go this year with it.

I could be selfish and just grab every opportunity to referee every show that is out there, or I could help try to keep the wheel of evolving Muay Thai rolling.

Personaly I see that the understanding of Muay Thai in the UK is developing very quickly, but is hindered by one major floor.

No body wants to be an official for nothing. There is no glory or reward for officiating these events correctly, much the opposite.

So its no real wonder that people who do the job are very 'shrug shoulders - dont care types', after all they are officiating for some eight hours and have to travel from far and wide to get to these events. They are then offered very little, so they must be doing it cause they have a deep desire and want to, but no doubt kick themselves everytime they do it.

So why not pay them a resonable amount for their time, effort and professionalism?

I am fortunate enough now to call myself a full time trainer, for the better or worse at the moment. My basic hourly rate is £25-£60 an hour, so over eight hours of refereeing would equate to £200, plus travel and food another £30-50.

I know that people are going to say you should be doing it for the love of the sport, and quite frankly.... that is an escape clause for promoters, voiced by the general public and others.

We should all be doing it for the sport and art, should we not.

Here is a rough outline of what I would urge promoters and other officials reading this to suggest paying.

Refereeing 'A' class bill - £300, Head Judge £140, Judge £100 + travel expenses for all officials
Refereeing 'B' class bill - £200, Head Judge £90, Judge £65 + travel expenses for all officials
Refereeing 'C' class bill - £150, Head Judge £70, Judge £50 + travel expenses for all officials

Why? Because then you as a promoter, trainer, spectator and fighter should have every right to loose it, if the officiating isnt upto standard.

This is by no means an answer to all the problems that go on in Muay Thai here in the UK, but I hope that by adding some input in,

we can move forward a little quicker. Your thoughts?